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1. What is the difference between a Request for Child Support Review and a Motion Regarding Support?

• A Support Review Request Form (PDF) can be filed with the friend of the court (no filing fee) when it has been 36 months or more since your last child support review or the requesting party can document a substantial change of circumstances.
• A Motion Regarding Support can be filed with the Circuit Court Clerk ($60 Filing Fee) when a party is seeking to modify the current child support order. The moving party will contact the friend of the court office to schedule a hearing in front of the Referee when preparing to file the motion.

2. Why is child support still charged when we have 50-50 custody?

Child support is calculated using the Michigan Child Support Formula. The formula considers multiple factors including, but not limited to, both parent’s income, the number of overnights each parent has, cost of health insurance premiums paid on behalf of the child(ren), and cost of child care paid by each parent. These factors may result in one parent paying the other parent's child support.

3. How can I monitor my child support case without having to come into or call the office?

• Each party has access to the MiChildSupport website.
• You will need certain information from your case to create your profile. Make sure the friend of the court has your correct mailing address on file. To complete the registration process and gain full access to the information on MiChildSupport, a PIN will be mailed to you.

4. How do I request reimbursement of the medical expenses I have paid for?

• If a parent fails to pay his or her share, the Friend of the Court (FOC) will help collect it if the following four conditions are satisfied:
  1. The amount exceeds the annual ordinary amount in the order, or the requesting parent is the support payer.
  2. One parent requests payment from the other parent within 28 days after receiving an insurer's denial of coverage, the insurer's final payment, or the date on the bill for services.
  3. The other parent does not pay within 28 days of the request for payment.
  4. The FOC's assistance is requested within one year after incurring the expense, or within six months after the insurer has denied coverage, or within six months after the other parent fails to pay as required.
• If a parent submits a request to the FOC that meets those four requirements, the FOC will notify the other parent of the amount due. If the parent does not object within 21 days, the unpaid amount becomes a support arrearage subject to any of the enforcement processes summarized earlier. If the parent objects, the FOC must schedule a hearing to decide how to pay the amount that the health insurer did not pay.
• For more detailed instructions, a copy of the 46th Circuit Health Care Expense Policy is available from the friend of the court office.

Documents

• FOC13 Request for Health Care Expense Payment (PDF)
• FOC13a Complaint and Notice for Health Care Expense Payment (PDF)
• Health Care Expense Tally Sheet (PDF)

5. How do I know if my tax refund will be garnished?

• If you owe more than $150 in past-due child support, State tax refunds may be intercepted.
• If you owe more than $500 in past-due child support, Federal tax refunds may be intercepted.

6. My child is enrolled in the Early College program; when will child support stop charging?

• Early College is not considered full-time high school attendance. If your child turns 18 before the 12th-grade graduation date and post-majority support is specified in the child support order, support will continue until the end of the graduation month.
• Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 552.605b(2) states, The court may order child support for the time a child is regularly attending high school on a full-time basis with a reasonable expectation of completing sufficient credits to graduate from high school while residing on a full-time basis with the recipient of support or at an institution, but in no case after the child reaches 19 years and 6 months of age. A complaint or motion requesting support as provided in this section may be filed at any time before the child reaches 19 years and 6 months of age.